LSi7 2ch Music System

skrol

It is that time of year again. Home schooling our 3 sons and newly adopted daughter is in full swing and we are swamped with books. My wife's attention turns to that space on either side of the fireplace where the RTA11TL's are resting and considers how nice it would be to have more space for books. Sigh...

I found a guy selling a pair of LSi7's locally for $300 that I have my eye on. After listening to the RTA's this weekend, I just don't know if I can part with them. I know the LSi7 is probably superior to the RTA11TL on the top end but the RTA's just dig so deep and are very nicely balanced. If I replace the RTA's with the LSi's I'll likely be looking for some decent music oriented subs. Then I have to worry about getting them to blend.

I tried my TSi 100's and Monitor 5A's and they really don't cut it. The listening area is my family room that completely open to the adjoining kitchen for a total listening area of 18' by 32'.

I don't know how much $$$ I'll be able to pull together for this project so it will be a tight budget. My question is, "what subs would musically blend nicely with the LSi7 while spending as little as possible"?

Should I really be considering 2 subs? I do have music that has separation in the bass end.

Is there another bookshelf speaker that I should consider that would serve the role better? If I found some LSi9's would I still be wanting a sub(s)?
Thanks
Stan

cokewithvanilla

skrol wrote: »

If I found some LSi9's would I still be wanting a sub(s)?

The only helpful (maybe) incite I can offer is, I have the 25's and I still want a sub for music.

maximillian

If you like bass, then you will want a sub for music. I have the 9's and a sub really helped. It's really a personal taste. I would have thought most people would be content with the subs in the 25's, but you can see coke's post that he wasn't.

I use an HSU stf-2 sub. I think you can get them for around $350 new. You can also pick up used Polk DSW subs for a little more. I have one sub and it works nicely. However, the STF-2 isn't the best for HT slam. It works fine for music though.

Again, all depends on how much bass you really are looking for. If you are patient you can often get a good used HSU or other sub for under $300 that will probably fill your need.

jawhog

I sold my 11tl's a few years back and still regret it sound wise, but I don't miss their sheer size. If I remember right, the lower end of 11tl is like 32HZ +- 3db or something. You can replace that with a small musically inclined sub, but I don't think any bookshelf/sub system I've tried has ever had quite the coherence that the 11tl's did. Plus once you have bookshelf speakers on stands and have to find another square foot or so for a small sub, have you really saved any space? A kid certainly can't knock over an 11tl, and a Lsi7 will need a substantial stand to be as safe.

That 11tl tweeter (sl3000 is it?) is somewhat agressive IMO, but not in a bad way. An LSi7 will seem delicate and airy and sort of laid back in comparison. Personally, I always felt like the LSi7 was missing top end in comparison, but that was just to my ears. I think other people would again say the Lsi7 was more delicate and extended and prefer it over the 11tl.

skrol

I have replaced the SL3000's with the RDO198 and upgraded the XO which got rid of the aggressiveness. I am not into loud thumpin' bass but I like my system to dig deep, as the RTA11TL does. The RTA's do this even at low volume.

What jawhog said about the coherence is what I am afraid of in that I am not sure if I will get the sub to blend very well.

As far as placement, the LSi7's would be wall mounted on brackets or sit on book cases and the sub somewhere close by on the floor. The higher placement of the bookshelf speakers would have an advantage as my family room is sunken (~8") and the RTA11TL's are a little low for much of the listening area.

mdaudioguy

Stan - I'm sending you a PM with an offer regarding the bottom system in my sig.

Ed

NewHTguy

cokewithvanilla wrote: »

The only helpful (maybe) incite I can offer is, I have the 25's and I still want a sub for music.

Funny. I just sold my Velodyne SPL-1200R, which I loved, but seemed unnecessary with the 25s. Guess it is just personal taste.

messiah

The 7's will surprise you. They sound much bigger than they really are, and take up very little space. That said, a sub is a good idea to round out the sound. 1 sub, if placed properly in your room would probably do the trick.